Clasp



J. WALKER.

(No Model.)

CLASP.

Patented Sept. 7,1897.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

m: Norms PEYERS cc, FNDTO-LITHD., WASHINGTON. D. c.

ATE'NT Fries.

JENNIE XVALKER, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

CLASP..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,450, dated September 7, 1897'.

Application filed May 1 2, 1 8 9 6- T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J ENNIE WALKER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and use ful Improvement in Clasps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in clasps, and especially to an improvement in clasps for shoestrings, laces, and similar purposes.

The object of the invention is to so construct the clasp that after the lace has been tied and properly engaged by said clasp the bow of the lace will not become loosened or untied until purposely released, and whereby the lace will be held at one or more points within the clasp, being prevented from leaving said points, and will in addition be held by an exterior section of the clasp firmly in contact with the shoe or other article to which the clasp may be applied, at those points where the lace enters and leaves the clasp.

A further object of the invention is to construct a clasp in a simple, durable, and economic manner, and so that it will be smooth upon all sides, having neither end nor side projections or roughnesses of any character to catch in the clothing.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.-

Figure 1 is a view of the clasps applied to a shoe. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the clasps closed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the clasps open. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of a closed clasp. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through a closed clasp, and Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the same.

The. clasp has a hollow body portion A and a cover 13. The body portion may be solid or it maybe struck up, as shown in the drawings, and the said body is preferably of an even Width throughout its length, except at one end, where it is provided with an enlargement 11. The bottom edge of the body is adapted to rest firmly upon the material to which the clasp is to be applied, andin the Serial No. 591,213. (No model.)

enlarged end 11 of the body a socket 12 is formed, the socket being in communication with and forming part of the hollow of the body portion A. Spurs 13 are carried by the end portions of the body, which spurs, in attaching the clasp to the article, are passed through or into the same and are bent against the material after entering it, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The enlarged end 11 of the body is given a smooth surface and preferably a convexed shape, so as to present no obstruction to the clothing.

A spring 14 is located within the hollow of the body portion, and the said spring is secured to the body at the end thereof opposite the enlargement and extends to and beneath the wider'end and centrally into the-socket 12 thereof. The free end of the spring is curved upward and thence downward, as shown in Fig. 5, conforming somewhat to the shape of the enlarged portion 11 of the body A. The cover 13 is virtually shell, and at one of its ends it is provided with a T-shaped lip 15, which is shaped to enter and fit into the socket 12 of the body. This lip where it is exposed is perfectly smooth, and the body is givena transverse and longitudinal convexed form, the cover being of sufficient length and width to entirely surround the said body when closed over the same. The cover, however, is of even width throughout its length, so that, as shown in Fig. 4:, a space will intervene the sides of the reduced portion of the body and the corresponding surfaces of the cover when the latter is closed over the body. The cover when closed over the body will engage at its bottom with the'surface to which the clasp is secured, being held in its closed position by the aforesaid spring 14:, which also serves to hold the cover in the open position shown in Fig. 3, which is at an angle to the body, the angle approximating a right angle, so that the wearer may have a full view of the body in applying or in disconnecting the lace therefrom, not having to feel where the loops are to be engaged.

The cover or shell B is provided with a central longitudinal ridge 16, this ridge being made usually by striking up the surface of the cover from the inside, as shown particularly in Fig. 6, and a series of pins 10 is secured longitudinally in the body and extends upward within the ridged portion of the cover when the latter is closed.

In operation a clasp is placed, for example, upon each side of the upper of the shoe at a point near the upper eyelets, as shown in Fig. 1. The lace is tied in the usual bow, a clasp at one side is opened, and a loop of the bow and one end of the lace are passed over the body of the open clasp, the loop and end being impaled upon the pins of the same. The cover is then closed down, forcing the lace at each side of the body to a firm engagement with the shoe. The opposite loop of the bow and the opposite end of the lace are then secured in the opposing clasp in like manner.

It will be observed that the clasp not only holds the lace atinteriorly-located points, but firmly secures the lace at each side of the body or where it enters and leaves the clasp. It is also evident that the entire surface of the clasp is smooth and rounded and will offer at no point in its exposed surface a projection or a roughness of any kind liable, for example, to injure skirt-braids, lace edgings, facings of shirts, &c., audit is also evident that the lace cannot be disconnected from the pins 10 until the cover is opened, owing to the extension of the pins upward into the ridge or groove of the cover.

Heretofore all clasps constructed for this purpose have stopped short of the surface to which they are applied, especially the cover portion, and a greater or less number of projections or protuberances have been formed on the exterior of the clasps, in which the clothing often catches, rendering their use distasteful and destructive.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A clasp comprising a body having fastening devices thereon, and a cover entirely embracing the body, the edges of the cover, together with the bottom of the body being arranged for contact with the surface to which the clasp is applied, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A clasp comprising a body portion provided with fastening devices, and a cover having hinged connection with the body, the said cover being of such dimensions as to substantially surround the body when closed, the bottom edges of the cover when in closed position contacting with the surface to which the clasp is applied, all exterior surfaces of the clasp being smooth, as and for the purpose specified.

3. A clasp comprising a body portion provided with fastening devices, and a cover having hinged connection with the body, the said cover being of such dimensions as to substantially surround the body when closed, the bottom edges of the cover when in closed position contacting with the surface to which the clasp is applied, the exterior surface of the entire clasp having a smooth convexed shape, as and for the purpose specified.

4. A clasp comprising a body having pins secured thereon, and a shell-like cover having a hinged connection with the body and practically surrounding the same when closed, that portion of the body having the pins attached being of less width than the width of the cover, and the said cover being of sufficient depth to extend downward to the surface to which the clasp is applied when the said cover is in closed position, as and for the purpose specified.

5. A clasp comprising a body having pins secured thereon, and a shell-like cover having a hinged connection with the body and practically surrounding the same when closed, that portion of the body having the pins attached being of less width than the width of the cover, and the said cover being of sufficient depth to extend to the surface to which the clasp is applied when the said cover is in closed position, and the said cover being also provided with an interior groove receiving the points of the pins, all exterior surfaces of the body and cover being smooth, as and for the purpose specified.

JENNIE lVALKER.

\Vitnesses:

BLANCHE CRYSLER, SAMUEL WALKER. 

